2020 Cadillac XT4 vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2020 Cadillac XT4, with its Premium Luxury trim, presented a sophisticated yet sporty appearance. It featured front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, contributing to its visual appeal. The XT4's crisp, tailored styling was complemented by a well-appointed interior, although some materials, like the plain black trim around the power window controls, fell short of luxury expectations. Despite these minor setbacks, the XT4's cabin was generally pleasant, offering competitive quality materials and a spacious feel, especially with its 20-inch alloy wheels enhancing its overall aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus GX retained its traditional SUV styling, with a body shell largely unchanged over the years. The GX's design included the signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, giving it a distinctive and aggressive look. However, the interior did not match modern luxury standards, with wood trim resembling molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Despite standard leather upholstery, the GX's cabin felt dated, lacking the refinement expected in a contemporary luxury SUV. The GX's tough exterior styling was appealing, but the interior left much to be desired in terms of luxury and modernity.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a lively driving experience, thanks to its broad torque band. However, the front-wheel-drive system struggled with slip and torque steer, making the optional twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system a desirable upgrade. The nine-speed automatic transmission offered smooth shifts but was hesitant to downshift in Tour mode, a problem somewhat alleviated in Sport mode. The XT4's ride and handling were mixed, with good steering effort in Tour mode but an artificially heavy sensation in Sport mode. The oversized wheels provided impressive grip, but the suspension struggled with speed humps and smaller bumps, impacting ride comfort.

The 2021 Lexus GX featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's performance was reminiscent of older SUVs, with a strong initial grunt but sluggish acceleration at higher speeds due to its 5,130-pound weight. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, lacking the refinement of modern unibody SUVs. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and various driver aids for off-road trails. However, its on-road performance was less impressive, with low grip and significant body roll in corners.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 offered a comfortable interior for the driver and front passenger, with soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The rear passenger compartment felt spacious, though the seat cushion lacked support. The XT4's air conditioning system was highly effective, quickly cooling the cabin even during a heatwave. The interior featured a clean, minimalistic design with ample storage space, including umbrella holders and a wireless smartphone charger. However, cargo space was limited, with 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the seat folded.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position contributed to a bus-like driving feel. The GX offered excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small center-console bins and cupholders. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children due to limited space. Cargo capacity was also restricted, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured an improved Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth pairing. The 8-inch touchscreen was complemented by intuitive controls on the center console and steering wheel, as well as a voice-recognition system. However, the screen size could be larger, and integrating the climate system with voice commands would enhance usability. The optional 13-speaker Bose audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, though the test car lacked some advanced features like a head-up display and rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functionality, with a separate display for time and temperature. However, Lexus included analog controls for most functions, offering a refreshing alternative to touchscreen-centric interfaces. The GX came with Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, as well as a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. Despite its simplicity, the GX's tech setup was user-friendly, though it fell short of modern luxury standards.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. The Premium Luxury trim added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-change warning systems. However, adaptive cruise control was only available with the Driver Assist Package. The XT4 received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not completed all testing.

The 2021 Lexus GX included the Lexus Safety System+ as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had published crash-test ratings for the GX.